An Electron Microscopic Study of the Function of the Root Cells in the External Spiral Sulcus of the Cochlea

Galić, M.; Giebel, W.

doi:10.3109/00016488909099008

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The cytologic structure of the root processes differed widely within a bundle (Galic and Giebel, 1989). Content of CR differed comparably among the root processes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Golgi–canalicular reticulum system in ion transporting fibrocytes and outer sulcus epithelium of gerbil cochlea

Spicer

Schulte

1997

Anat. Rec.

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Background: Five types of highly specialized fibrocytes have been identified in the spiral ligament of the gerbil cochlea. Type I, II, and IV fibrocytes function in cycling back to the stria vascularis K ؉ effluxed from outer hair cells and nerves during auditory transduction. Thus, evidence exists for a transcellular path of K ؉ movement from outer sulcus cells through fibrocytes to the strial interstitial space, but a mechanism for facilitating such ion flow within the cells has not been elucidated.Methods: The spiral ligament of glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide-fixed and Epon-embedded gerbil cochlea was examined by transmission electron microscopy.Results: Ultrastructural examination disclosed an extensive membrane limited reticulum in the cytoplasm of type I, II, IV, and V fibrocytes of the lateral wall and in outer sulcus cells and their root processes. This system resembled the tubulocisternal endoplasmic reticulum present in some ion-transporting epithelia but appeared more to constitute a network of canaliculi and is referred to as the canalicular reticulum (CR). Many typical small Golgi complexes invariably accompanied the CR in the fibrocytes and sulcus cells, as we have found to be true of other epithelia known to contain CR and function in ion transport. Numerous mitochondria populated cytosol-containing CR.Conclusions: The data support the concept of transcellular K ؉ flux in type I, II, IV, and V fibrocytes and outer sulcus cells in the cochlea and lend credence to the view of CR as functioning in the movement of ions through cells. The constant and precise association of Golgi complexes with CR in the different cell types implies a functional relationship possibly concerned with biosynthesis of CR by Golgi elements, and the abundance of mitochondria near CR indicates an energy requirement for function of the reticulum or its biosynthesis. Anat.

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“…The cytologic structure of the root processes differed widely within a bundle (Galic and Giebel, 1989). Content of CR differed comparably among the root processes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Golgi–canalicular reticulum system in ion transporting fibrocytes and outer sulcus epithelium of gerbil cochlea

Spicer

Schulte

1997

Anat. Rec.

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“…The The external sulcus cells are situated in the lateral wall of the cochlear duct under the cells of Claudius between the stria vascularis and basilar membrane; they insert root-like cell cords from the superficial layer into the connective tissue of the lateral wall (light microscopy: IWATA, 1925;FIEANDT and SAXEN, 1936; transmission electron microscopy: SPOENDLIN, 1967b;ILBERG et al, 1968;DUVALL, 1969;GALIC and GIEBEL, 1989). Ultrastructural studies have suggested that the sulcus cells secrete (LAWRANCE, 1956;BORGHESAN, 1957;GIEBEL, 1977;GALIC and GIEBEL, 1989) or absorb (SAXEN, 1948(SAXEN, , 1951YAMAMOTO and NAKAI, 1964;SPOENDLIN, 1967b;DUVALL, 1969) endolymph in the cochlear duct.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ultrastructural studies have suggested that the sulcus cells secrete (LAWRANCE, 1956;BORGHESAN, 1957;GIEBEL, 1977;GALIC and GIEBEL, 1989) or absorb (SAXEN, 1948(SAXEN, , 1951YAMAMOTO and NAKAI, 1964;SPOENDLIN, 1967b;DUVALL, 1969) endolymph in the cochlear duct. Recent biochemical studies (see the review by STERKERS et al, 1988) have revealed a base-to-apex gradient for the chemical composition of the endolymph, implying that the cochlear components involved in the secretion and absorption of endolymph vary in functional structure along the cochlear duct, but the sulcus cell cords have never been studied in this respect.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The sulcus cell cords may be constricted by the fibers as the basilar membrane vibrates; this concept infers the idea that the constriction works as a pumping mechanic to absorb the endolymph. LAWRANCE (1956) and GALIC and GIEBEL (1989) postulated that, by stimulations from the fibers of the basilar membrane, the external sulcus cells secrete certain substances into the endolymph. Though the external sulcus region seems to be primarily involved in the localized absorption coupled with the localized secretion of the endolymph by the stria vascularis, as described above, the possible significance of a secretory activity for the sulcus cells can also not be excluded.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Scanning electron microscopy of the connective tissue along the lateral wall of the mouse cochlear duct with special reference to the External sulcus cells.

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Abe

1990

Archives of Histology and Cytology

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“…Duvall (6) observed the outer sulcus and the root cells of guinea pigs by TEM, showing that the root cells formed branched bundles. Additional TEM studies also revealed the ultrastructure of root cells (7,34), but few studies have focused on the 3D architecture of root cells, except a study by Jagger et al (16), in which a dye was injected into root cells to demonstrate their spread. Our 3D reconstruction studies revealed that a number of root cells connect with each other to form a branched cell mass, similar in shape to a tree root.…”

Section: Root Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

<b>Three-dimensional reconstruction of root cells and interdental cells in the rat inner ear by serial section scanning electron micr</b><b>oscopy </b>

et al. 2017

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In the cochlea, a high K + environment in the endolymph is essential for the maintenance of normal hearing function, and the transport of K + ions through gap junctions of the cochlear epithelium is thought to play an important role in endolymphatic homeostasis. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the three-dimensional (3D) ultrastructure of spiral ligament root cells and interdental cells, which are located at both ends of the gap junction system of the cochlea epithelium. Serial semi-thin sections of plastic-embedded rat cochlea were mounted on glass slides, stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate, and observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) using the backscattered electron (BSE) mode. 3D reconstruction of BSE images of serial sections revealed that the root cells were linked together to form a branched structure like an elaborate "tree root" in the spiral ligament. The interdental cells were also connected to each other, forming a comb-shaped cellular network with a number of cellular strands in the spiral limbus. Furthermore, TEM studies of ultra-thin sections revealed the rich presence of gap junctions in both root cells and interdental cells. These findings suggest the possibility that both root cells and interdental cells contribute to K + circulation as the end portion of the epithelial cell gap junction system of the cochlea.

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An Electron Microscopic Study of the Function of the Root Cells in the External Spiral Sulcus of the Cochlea

Cited by 16 publications

References 18 publications

Golgi–canalicular reticulum system in ion transporting fibrocytes and outer sulcus epithelium of gerbil cochlea

Golgi–canalicular reticulum system in ion transporting fibrocytes and outer sulcus epithelium of gerbil cochlea

Scanning electron microscopy of the connective tissue along the lateral wall of the mouse cochlear duct with special reference to the External sulcus cells.

<b>Three-dimensional reconstruction of root cells and interdental cells in the rat inner ear by serial section scanning electron micr</b><b>oscopy </b>

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